3 Birmingham firefighters injured in house fire, hours after another firefighter injured

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- For the second time today, Birmingham firefighters this evening were injured battling a house fire that likely was started by a space heater.

This time, two were burned and one fell from a ladder battling a fire in the 1400 block of 18th Place Southwest, said Battalion Chief C.W. Mardis. An occupant of the house escaped unharmed.

One had second to third degree burns to his hands, and one had a scald on his back. The firefighter who fell suffered injuries to his head and shoulders. All three were taken to UAB Hospital and are expected to recover.

The incident happened after a firefighter issued a mayday call after becoming disoriented in the burning house and his fellow firefighters climbed a ladder to help him out.

The fire started in the basement and spread to the attic. It took firefighters about 30 minutes to get the fire under control. The house sustained 100 percent smoke damage and 40 percent fire damage.